I take a long, hard look at Yujiro. Where do I know him from?
His chest is bare, cross-crossed with scars. He's built like a man who's used to fighting divine beasts. His aura is vibrant, yet things are missing. Cultivators at a certain level conceal their qi to mask their strength or to protray themselves as weaker. He could very well be of a higher cultivation realm.
I remember hearing stories about a wandering warrior from another land that was just exploring the world in his cultivation journey.
"Rise, Ji Li Mei." Yujiro stops before me, his massive frame towering over mine.
"The restriction..." I comment with a wince.
Yujiro quirks a brow and makes a dismissive gesture with his hand. The weight dissipates and I can sit upright again. I take a couple of steadying breaths. He offers me his hand and I take it as he hoists me up to stand like I was a feather.
His palm is rough, callused and mine feels tiny and delicate inside of his. A warmth tickles the back of my hand as I pull it free of the powerful cultivator.
"The truth, Ji Li Mei. What happened?"
I look up at Yujiro, he must be well over 7 feet tall. I'm barely over 5 feet. Sweat rolls down my cheek and before I can wipe ot away, a large rough thumb is wiping the sweat and dirt away. My face feels hot and I stare dumbfounded. What is even happening with this route?
"I won the bet I made with Aoto." My voice calm as I keep my gaze on his face as we speak.
"Don't make me pry the story from you. I will give you only this one chance or else I will be displeased with you," Yujiro scolded, his large hand settling on my shoulder.
My eyes linger on his lips, my heart flutters.
Stop it, Li Mei. You are acting like a hormonal teenager.
Regardless of how many lives I've lived, I am still a teenager in this life.
I shake my head to clear it. For a moment, a pleased smile plays across Yujiro's lips. He doesn't say anything as he waits for me to continue. I don't want this man to be upset with me.
"They came here seeking retribution for their friend being injured last night when I recovered the demon beast core. I'm under probabtion with the sect and have a Heavenly restriction imposed on me to keep me from using cultivation techniques. I made a bet that I felt might satisify their need to vent without it getting too messy." I offer with a shrug. "It's good to train defense when dealing with stronger opponennts."
Yujiro's expression is thoughtful as he considers what I said, like he's weighing what he thinks I omitted or embellished. He leans down, his breath tickling my ear. "We will talk more, Ji Li Mei. I promise you this."
I step back, looking up at Yujiro feeling exposed. What did he want to talk to me about? Does he know something? This doesn't feel like it's enitrely professional interest. Yujiro smiles at me again and pats my shoulder before he moves from me.
"Get Aoto treatment. The wards on this place punished him for violating one of the sect tenents. I will review my findings with the elders to determine if further punishment is required." Yujiro gestures for the others to leave. "Do not return here without specific invitation again."
The intruders bowed and hurried away as best they could with Aoto supported between them.
"Li Mei didn't do anything wrong, Brother Yujiro." Lubi comments, looking at the older cultivator with respect and wearinenss.
"Oh yes. Those techniques she used were quite superb considering her restrictions." Yujiro replies with a rumbling chuckle. "And the fact she is untrained makes her quite intriguing."
I smile though iwhat he's implying makes me uneasy. He knows something is wrong.
"And this is why, I will be her teacher starting now," Yujiro replied with a pleased grin. "I'll be staying here in the east building to keep Ji Li Mei from outside distractions."
Lubi and Qin Tao pale at this. I don't know what to do. I bow deeply, my voice awkward but cheerfully polite. "It's an honor, Yujiro. I will do my best to bring my teacher honor as I grow stronger as a cultivator."
It's a shock. I've lived alone for most of my many lives. I'm not accustomed to sharing my space like this. I have to live with these three men that I'm not related to in close proximity from now on. I don't know if this is a good thing or will be the end of me. The bane of my existence in a previous life and two unknowns.
I want to decline but this is an opportunity to learn from a powerful cultivator. It gives me a chance to keep my enemy close so I can avenge myself. It gives me allies for once. Birdsong brings me back to the present from my thoughts. The men stare at me and I chuckle softly. "Sorry, it's been a rough couple of days. I might've overdone it." The tension leaves my body and my balance waivers.
"Indeed." Yujiro's strong hands catch and steady me. "We'll retuire for the afternoon aand go from there. I'm sure you have questions."
I smile weakly with a nod. I definitely do. Something might trigger more of the memories of how I know Yujiro from before and how I can handle what he might present me in this one. My plan requires me growing stronger. Once I'm strong, I can focus on vengence.
Qin Tao looks concerned but nods his agreement. "We were eating before all this happened. Please join us, for tea," he offers, deciding it's better to play host. He looks like he wants to say more but doesn't.
I'm exhausted from the effort. I rub my eyes, closing them as I let my spirit sight technique deactivate. My eyes hurt as the physical world resettles without the extreme contrasts the pulse of qi leaves on the world. Walking through the door of the main house soothes my aches. I flop down on the floor by our table and drink the remainder of my tea.
"So." Lubi sits down beside me, grinning at me. "Was triggering the ward the plan all along?"
Yujiro sits across from me, displacinng Qin Tao to another seat on the opposite side of me from Lubi.
"No. My plan was to dodge and stall until the joss burned out." I pour Yujiro a cup of tea before I refill my own. Lubi and Qin Tao's cups are still full. It's only been a few minutes but it feels like it's been hours.
"You're lucky we only have the short joss sticks here for the house shrine rather than the longer ones." He adds, pleased.
"That was reckless of you Li Mei, it would've been better for me or Lubi to have taken the bet. You're still injured." Qin Tao scolds, frowning as he traces the rim of his tea cup.
Lubi prepares a plate of food for Yujiro, offering it to the senior cultivator with a smile. "Here. It's a local fish with one of the regional spice blend."
Yujiro smiles, relaxing with his arm resting against his knee. "Excellent. I love regional food. It's the joy of longevity, sampling the cuisines of the world. There is always something new to discover and enjoy."
I hold my cup inn my hand, thoughtful as I consider Qin Tao's words. "It would've sated them. It is me they are angry with. If I didn't offer up a solution, it looks like I'm hiding behind someone else to protect me. It secures the idea that I'm helpless and weak. I don't want them to come back thinking me easy prey."
Yujiro nods, "Hmm, this is indeed wise. To beat them in a way that looks like your untouchable discourages them from attempting this approach again." He smiles.
"I didn't need to do anything but not let him touch me," I reply with a shrug.
"So how did you manage it? you were at a disadvantage there," Lubi pries with another smile. "I'm impressed with how you handled yourself. It was impressive."
I consider how to answer the question. The Hand of Destiny and other techniques that all a person to manipulate the fate of others are rare. People are rightly distrustful and covetous of someone who can alter your fate. I don't know if I can tell them this yet. It's too soon.
"I can see the flow of qi," I offer instead. Lubi pokes my shoulder to encourage me to say more since they already know this about me from earlier. "If you can see energy, you can predict a cultivator's actions. I saw Aoto gathering his qi for his different techniques as he shifted his stances. I was able to dodge by moving out of the way of the energy."
"It's a simple explaination but not the whole truth, is it, Ji Li Mei?" Yujiro tilts his head as he looks at me with a half grin. "Tell me the truth and I can properly shape you into the best version of yourself. A goddess of victory no one will trifle with."